Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper holds 14th annual River Revival

"Rescue Your River, Save the Hooch" event takes place May 13 at Park Tavern. The party benefits UCR's work and features local musicians and food.

WAY DOWN YONDER: The beautiful Chattahoochee River on a sunny day. (Photo: javajoba/Flickr)

Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (UCR) will hold the 14th Annual River Revival, "Rescue Your River, Save the Hooch," on Thursday, May 13, from 6:30 - 11:00 p.m., at Park Tavern at Piedmont Park. Approximately 600 guests, UCR members and sponsors are expected to gather to celebrate the river while soaking in the spring weather under the big tent on the green.

The party, which benefits UCR's work protecting the Chattahoochee River, will feature live music from Emerson Hart of Tonic, plus Gareth Asher, Michael Tolcher, Christopher Alan Yates, Jen Lowe and others from UCR's house band, the Watershed Project. During the party UCR will also present its River Rock Star Award to special guest Ed Roland of Collective Soul.

In addition to live music, the ticket price ($40 by May 10, $55 at the door if available) includes incredible food from Park Tavern and tasty beverages from SweetWater Brewery and Park Tavern, live and silent auctions, and a one-year complimentary membership in UCR. Tickets can be purchased at www.chattahoochee.org.

Tree Sound Studios will provide solar power for the evening's musical entertainment. UCR is also sponsoring SafeRide America for patrons' safety driving home from River Revival. SafeRide is a program organized by the National Council for the Prevention of Impaired Driving (NCPID).

The yearly event is organized by an active Host Committee and raises funds and awareness to protect the Chattahoochee - drinking water source for 3.5 million Georgians. It is also the kick-off party for SweetWater Brewery's Save the Hooch Campaign, which engages beer drinkers, bar patrons and restaurants throughout metro Atlanta in supporting UCR's river patrol and water quality monitoring programs.

UCR was founded in 1994 by Laura Turner Seydel and Rutherford Seydel. Guided by Executive Director and Riverkeeper Sally Bethea, the fledgling group took legal action against the city of Atlanta for violations of the Clean Water Act, forcing an overhaul of the city's sewage system. Since then the group has grown to 4,500 members and has fought vigilantly to protect the river for the millions of Georgians who depend on it for drinking water, recreation, wildlife habitat and many other uses.